Sturgeon
Fishing Techniques and Tackle
 Sturgeon
fishing on the Fraser River is one of the most
exciting freshwater angling experiences that you can have.
These fish can grow quite large and are extremely good fighters.
There are some green sturgeon in the system as well but
the white’s are the most predominant species.
Where They Feed!
Some people say that these fish are only bottom feeders
and wait for the current to send them their next meal, this
is partly correct however sturgeon do actively seek out
food and will travel a fair distance to find your bait.
It is a waiting game, sometimes they are actively feeding
and the action can be explosive, other times you have to
be patient waiting for the moment when they decide to eat.
Where in the River They Can Be Found!
It is interesting where these fish can be found, they inhabit
all depths of the river from the big deep runs to areas
that may only be 8-10ft. in depth. Sometimes they will hold
in behind drop offs or ledges waiting for there next meal
to come to them. When you hook a fish in the shallows they
tend to make a big run away from the boat, usually punctuated
with some impressive tail walking! In the deeper waters
it is not uncommon for them to head straight up and take
a big jump, clearing the water completely, then the fish
will usually ‘slug it out’ in the depths.
What Time To Fish Sturgeon!
Our guided fishing for sturgeon takes place from March right
thru to the end of November. In the spring time after a
long winter, the eulachon other wise known as (candle fish)
start to return to spawn. The sturgeon are hungry and feast
on these little fish, it is not uncommon to have double
digit days when angling for them at this time of year. This
fishery is very consistent, until the snow melts from BC’s
interior mountains, this in turn raises the water in the
Fraser River. These river levels fluctuate dramatically
depending on the size of the previous winter’s snow
pack. Even though the water can be high and dirty there
is always someplace to fish out of the current and debris,
the fish will hold in these ‘softer’ areas and
feed on different items made available due to the high water
levels.
 After
the snow melts, and the river levels start to drop the fish
will begin to move back to their regular haunts. The next
big feed for the sturgeon is when the salmon return to the
Fraser on their annual spawning migration. This time of
the season is when we start to use salmon parts and salmon
roe to attract the fish.
In August the sockeye salmon begin arriving. The Fraser
River has warmed up a bit and the sturgeon get very active.
The battles can be monumental , with sturgeon leaping clear
of the water when hooked.!!
Every two years there is a pink salmon migration here on
the Fraser and Harrison River, this year 2009, and 2011
they’l return. The fishing is just short of insane,
the sturgeon feast on the pink salmon and become very fat,
you can actually feel whole salmon in there bellies after
you land a big one.!
Then as we slide into the fall we have the chum salmon
migration, again the sturgeon will eat and get there fill
before the long winter returns again. At this time of year
salmon roe will be the bait of choice. They will feed actively
through the fall until the cold water temperatures slow
their metabolism down with the onset of winter.
 Shape
and Color Changes!
It is interesting as a guide to see how the sturgeon changes
shape and colors thru out the seasons, in the early part
of the season the fish can be a bit skinny before they start
to fill up on the eulachon. Then in the fall they tend to
gain a lot of weight after eating dead salmon. When the
water is relativity clear the fish take on a darker skin
color and when the water is high and colored the fish can
be very white in appearance.
Where Sturgeon Go!
Not all sturgeon remain in the freshwater, there have been
sightings of sturgeon jumping off the west coast of Vancouver
Island and there have been confirmed fish that have been
originally tagged from the Columbia River in USA with pit
tags and recaptured in the Fraser  River.
Some of the fish that have been caught in the river have
had barnacles on them also, which means that they defiantly
came from the ocean. Also, I believe the fish that do come
from the ocean have extremely sharp and large scutes which
are the boney platelets along the back,
sides and leading edges of the belly. The sturgeon that
are in the river tend to have duller scutes from swimming
around gravel and river bottom. There is still a great deal
to learn about these great fish and every time we catch
one, we have the opportunity to learn something new.
Catch and Release!
All Sturgeon fishing in BC is on a catch and release basis.
These fish are slow growing; it takes a female around 15
to 20 years to reach her spawning age, which is around a
5 to 6 foot fish. When the fish get larger, they may not
develop eggs every year; it takes a long time to develop
millions of the tiny eggs.
Tackle To Fish Sturgeon!
When fishing for sturgeon, we use custom built rods that
have a strong butt section with a nice taper to the tip,
sometimes these fish can bite very light and a stiff tip
will actually scare them off. The reels are heavy duty saltwater
type with a smooth drag system for the long runs you can
experience on the bigger fish. The line I like to use is
150lb Power pro for the main line and generally 130lb test
for the leaders. Hooks are very important for this type
of fishing and a good strong 8/0 to 12/0 hook is necessary
to land the big ones, which can weigh 1000 pounds and be
more than 12 feet in length.
I would highly recommend this world renowned fishery
in BC for sturgeon on the Fraser and Harrison Rivers. Setting
the hook on a large fish and having it jump clear of the
water is absolutely exhilarating, and photos of the epic
battle will provide the lifelong memories.!
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